Synod 2025 Summary
An overview of our week together as a diocese with delegates from across the country.
God’s Word Succeeds. This was the theme we pursued together over the week of October 27-31, 2025 as over 200 members and delegates from all across our vast diocese gathered in Vancouver, BC for our annual diocesan synod. Synod 2025 was hosted by the kind people of Church of the Good Shepherd under the leadership of Bishop Stephen Leung and the tireless efforts of the Rev. Allan Tan and their team. Volunteers from churches all over the Vancouver area pitched in to help make synod run smoothly and effectively.
Monday
As is our pattern, the Monday of Synod Week is set aside for the gathering of our bishops and archdeacons. As is true for all our delegates and clergy, our archdeacons and bishops have precious few opportunities to be together in person, and this day provides a wonderful chance for them to share, bond, plan and pray together.
Tuesday
Tuesdays at Synod we call our Clergy Day. These days are a chance for all our clergy to be together with our bishops before the busyness of Synod truly begins. And it gives time for our bishops to share, provide direction and resource our clergy specifically.
We began the day with Morning Prayer, led by Rev. Guy Bellerby from St. John’s, Richmond, BC. Then Bishop Dan greeted the clergy, introduced the content of the day and addressed some important issues in our Province and Anglican communion.
This year at Synod 2025 Bishop Dan invited the Rev. Canon Dr. Jim Salladin, rector of Emmanuel New York and Canon for church planting in his diocese, to bring our teaching at Clergy Day and throughout our synod together. Our theme was intended to centre on our priority as a diocese to have congregations which are Biblically Grounded in all we do, and Canon Jim’s teaching to our clergy was aimed particularly at “Preaching to the Heart”.
Here are a few quotes:
“Expository preaching is when the sermon yields to the text, rather than the other way around.”
“Friend, if we cannot answer the question: How does God conquer a blind and unbelieving heart, then all our ministries are futile.”
“The Bible is designed to make us see the face of God.”
“The ear is organ that can see significance.”
“Every passage of Scripture is designed to unveil something about who Jesus is… to give us a glimpse into the face of Jesus.”
“When you see the face of Jesus finding you, then you’re going to look back at the text and see him everywhere.”
Canon Jim led three sessions with our clergy, with some opportunity for Q&A throughout the day. We will be providing the video of these sessions soon.
After the afternoon fellowship break we had Evening Prayer with opportunity for clergy to renew their ordination vows.
Wednesday
Wednesdays at Synod are often a day for specific and practical teaching on topics or helpful tools for ministry. To fit with our theme this year we had presentations on ministries and tools that we hope may help our congregations ground all they do on the Bible.
We began with Morning Prayer led by Rev. Stephen Barbour of Christ the Redeemer, Lethbridge, AB. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/mMUZNpqCTGE
Bishop Dan then began by addressing with all the delegates the allegations recently made regarding Archbishop Steve Wood and the ensuing canonical process and investigation. He then had Bishop Ron Ferris and Bishop Grant LeMarquand join him for a time of Q&A regarding the recent developments with Gafcon and the newly announced Global Anglican Communion. He then invited Bishop Mike Stewart, suffragan bishop for the West, and Bishop Stephen Leung, suffragan bishop for AMMiC to share about developments within their regions and congregations.
After our first fellowship break, Bishop Dan welcomed Ven. Sean Love to come and present on the Bible-in-a-Day course which he and others have developed over the years. The intention of the course, Ven. Sean explained, is to examine the key people, events, dialogue and narrative that communicate God’s grand plan and purpose. Its goal, Sean explained, is for participants to see and enjoy more of God’s one big story revealed in the Bible. His hope was that this course could be valuable to all our congregations as we seek to train our people in Biblical literacy and equip them with the lens of the full arc of Scripture. He both taught about the course and modelled how one could present it at your church. He also invited Rev. Stephen Lieberman, who has taught the course before, to come and demonstrate a section. You can watch both of these sessions here:
You can learn more about Bible-in-a-Day, contact Ven. Sean Love and download free followup resources here: dioceseofcanada.ca/bible-in-a-day
Following lunch Bishop Dan invited Carolyn Vanderheide to share about progress in our diocesan efforts to assist congregations with their children and youth ministries, ensuring they are equipped for Biblically grounded ministry to our youngest generations. (You can learn more about this diocesan priority here.)
After our final break of the day Rev. Chris Ley presented on Bible Study resources and frameworks which can greatly enhance individuals’ abilities to study Scripture and for churches to enable Bible study in their congregations. He provided access to dozens of study resources from St. John’s Vancouver many of which you can get here: stjohnsvancouver.org/study-guides
Wednesday evening we held our Opening Eucharist service. This service was open and free to anyone in the area. You can watch it in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g52H6BCru3I?si=bR9t3RmES4VCEMfT&t=419
Clergy vested and processed and for the sermon Bishop Dan delivered his charge to the diocese.
Here are some quotes from Bishop Dan’s message.
“The greatest treasure that you can give your children or grandchildren is the eternal gift that is the gift of Jesus Christ that they know through his word."
"God's living word makes us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the purpose of scripture that we would be wise to the salvation of Jesus”
You can watch his charge here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g52H6BCru3I?si=ykTNDnmz0w1QdZLZ&t=995
Thursday
Once again we began the day with Morning Prayer led by Marian Karasiuk from St. Peter’s Fireside in Vancouver, BC. Canon Jim Salladin then continued his Bible teaching, this morning focusing on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4.
"Canada is a big country... and Jesus gave us a big commission... You got a big job."
"Every time God's people fall into sin, it's because we're believing a lie. We're believing that we can find something better than God."
"God desires to give himself to those who right now hold up their fists at God and want nothing to do with him and don't even know that they desire him. Those are exactly the people to whom you are to offer living water."
You can watch his message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/RGJdZxWDfRM?si=gK7-89IaTNzwW380&t=2942
After our morning fellowship break we recovered and began our business sessions as synod. This involves adopting our rules of order and then we can commence addressing various motions and resolutions which have been submitted by delegates. Our Nominating Committee presented their slate of candidates for our Diocesan Council election later that day. Scattered among these motions and reports, Bishop Dan interviewed a variety of people from across the diocese, including church planters and ministry leaders.
Synod heard reports on our financial statements, presented by our treasurer Sarah Hunt, and budget proposal, presented by Canon Howard Edwards, our Executive Director. The financial statements report noted a 5% increase in income received from our parishes, along with over 10% increase in our diocesan average Sunday attendance. The treasurer also presented excellent news of “a clean, unqualified audit opinion” from our auditors, reduced admin and office expenses from increased efficiencies and innovations, $367,000 in donations received towards ministries and parishes, and a $105,000 total surplus.
In the budget presentation Canon Howard presented not only the budget numbers but much of the vision behind the numbers, as we continue to further our mission of building Biblically faithful, Gospel sharing, Anglican churches. He reminded us of our diocesan 5 Priorities and our three Multiply for Mission efforts: Packer College, Curacy Program and Church Planting.
“Don’t just approve this budget and leave the resourcing to others,” he urged. “This is our budget. Ask God how you, your congregation and the individuals that make up that congregation are being challenged to step into God’s Mission.”
Praise God, the budget was carried with much unity.
*Elected members to Diocesan Council
After lunch we continued the business sessions with interviews, including interviews with several of our Youth Delegates, an update from Canon Howard Edwards on our Safety, Response and Care policies and team, and other motions. The Canons Committee Report and the motion to harmonize our Canons with our Safety Response and Care policies was tabled temporarily, pending legal clarification.
It was also announced that our next synod will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador hosted by Church of the Good Samaritan. This will be a first for us and Rev. Shaun O’Connor shared on behalf of all our Newfoundland congregations how excited they were to be receiving us there in 2026.
To end the day we held our election, using an online process, to elect four members to our Diocesan Council. Rev. Stephen Barbour (Lethbridge, BC) and Rev. Shaun O’Connor (Bonavista, NL) were elected as clergy members, and Ed Brett (Langley, BC) and Tyler Chamberlain (Abbotsford, BC) were elected as lay members.
Friday
Our final day of Synod 2025 began with Morning Prayer led by Ven. Angus Wu from St. Matthias and St. Luke in Vancouver, BC. Canon Jim Salladin then gave his final sermon, this time centred around the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
Teaching quotes:
"When God gives his holy spirit, God himself, so to speak, moves off of the mountain and out of the temple and takes up residence within our bodies so that the Christian's body becomes as holy as Mount Si."
"God's word however does not bear fruit through us because of us. There is nothing in us... that makes God's word effective."
God's spirit loves his word. God's spirit loves his word being spoken out by his people. And the spirit captivates us with his word and then speaks through us."
"Repentance is the only way to finally end exile. And repentance is the only way for them to truly find the home that they desire, but that they cannot even yet imagine."
"If we can hold up the diagnosis of scripture, they will find their hearts diagnosed. But the beautiful thing... is that we don't simply have a diagnosis, but we have the cure."
You can watch his message here: https://www.youtube.com/live/44oiMqGUQZ4?si=PWuL4YxWuDLdfqWR&t=1986
After our fellowship break, we heard reports from global ministries like ARDFC, the Latin America Mission and a video update from Bishop Darrell Critch as he travelled across his Diocese of Mahajanga, Madagascar. You can watch his update here: https://youtu.be/h8iqOZD-yH4?si=MsZFm3VJ6zjXSpax
Bishop Dan took significant time to thank all those who put so much effort into synod from our presenters and speakers, to our musicians and service leaders, to our A/V team and food volunteers, and all those at Church of the Good Shepherd Vancouver who worked so hard to host us and care for us so well.
We concluded Synod 2025 with a service of Midday Prayer led by Bishop Stephen Leung. You can watch the service and his homily here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8vpbWlZSZtk?si=5LhaypYAapM3H2UI
Delegates were served lunch and then we began to disperse back to our homes.
We hope this summary gives you a little taste and overview of Synod 2025. There is so much more we could include and we intend to have more video clips and resources coming.
Thank you to everyone attended Synod this year and thank you to each congregation which enabled your clergy and delegates to participate. We pray it was a blessing in many ways to all who gathered and that much of what was shared will return with them and enrich the life and ministry of our congregations. And we pray that as a diocese and family of churches that in all we do we will be Biblically grounded, for God’s word always succeeds.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”Isaiah 55:10-11